The colours of the late Colin McKenna were carried to victory by our One to Watch on Monday, a debut winner from the Ciaron Maher stable by Triple Crown winner Justify (USA).
Perfect Excuse scores on debut - image Reg Ryan / Racing Photos
Three year-old colt Perfect Excuse was a short priced favourite for the 1300m maiden and given a good ride by John Allen he duly score a trouble free win, racing clear to score by a length.
“He jumped the gates quickly and landed in front and with the small field I didn’t think there was any need to take him back,” said John Allem.
“He was a bit too casual and I had to put him under pressure early, but he kept responding and is a typical Justify, they always pull out that bit extra and he can be a nice horse going forward.”
A $400,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Ciaron Maher from the Coolmore draft, he runs for a syndicate that includes his trainer and some of the Coolmore as well as the McKenna family’s Halo Racing Services.
Perfect Excuse is the second winner from Group II winning Fastnet Rock filly Formality, who was also placed in a Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Coolmore sold a Zoustar filly from Formality at Inglis Easter this year for $950,000 to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) / James Bester Bloodstock and she has been exported to South Africa.
Formality has a yearling filly by So You Think and has foaled this spring producing a filly by I Am Invincible.
Perfect Excuse is the 19th winner from 23 starters for Justify bred from a daughter of Fastnet Rock with the nick running at 82.6% winners to runner and with five stakes-winners the SW to runner is 21%.
